Thermostat.



PATENTED JULY 24, 1906. F. T. MUELLER.

THERMOSTAT. APPMOATION FILED mm1. 1904.

LER, a citizen of UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'ratented July 24, 1906.

Application led June 1, 1904. Serial No. 210,742.

To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK T. MUEL- the United States, and a resident of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have made and invented certain new land useful Improvements in Thermostats, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved thermostat adapted for various purposes-as, for instance, to control the temperature of water in hot-water tanks employed in houses and factories-the obj ect of the same being to provide a device of this character which shall be simple and chea to manufacture, easily and readily applie and reliable and effective in operation. i

With these and other ends in view my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointedout in the claims.

, for such which the drawings I have x to hot-water tanks,

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aview in elevation of my improved thermostat as applied to a hot-water tank. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device, the tank and its connections being omitted. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction as indicated by the arrow. Fig. 5 is a detached view in elevation of one of the deflecting-toes.

My improved thermostat is applicable to various uses and for various purposes, and in illustrated it as applied having found in practice that it operates under such-conditions and purposes with reliability and eectiveness.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a hot-water tankor boiler--such, for instance, as is employedf in houses` and factories for the distribution of hot water through the building and into which leads the inlet-pipe B for 'cold water and from which leads the drainpipe CQ For the purpose of heating the water in the tank there is usually employed a steam-coil D, having connected therewith a valve E, operated` for instance, by waterpressure supplied through the pipe F. These various parts, however, form nol art ofthe invention and are illustrated for t e purpose of showing one application of the thermostat, consists of a bracket, referably formed of Vcast-iron and with two eflectingarms 11, the metal forming the junction being shaped into a flat disk 12 and of round or circular end pieces 13 14. Into the end 13, which is provided with a central opening, is threaded one end of the sleeve 15, squared or shouldered, as illustrated at 16, to-facili tate the turning thereof, the opposite end of the sleeve being threaded into the boiler or tank A. This sleeve 15 is internally threaded to receive one end of the tube or pipe 17, made of expansiblev metal, preferably brass, which tube or pipe extends inwardly into the boiler or tank A and is intended to be surrounded with the water the temperature o f which it is desired to control or regulate. Through this pipe or tube 1 7 extends the metal rod 18, one end of which is tightly secured to the inner free end of the tube or ipe 17, the opposite end of sai'd rod exten ing loosely through the sleeveY 15 and loosely through the ends 13 and 14 of the bracket, the extreme end of the rod being provided with the disk or wheel 19, threaded thereon, in order that the device may be adjusted and regulated that the valve will operate at a selected temperature, as hereinafter described, it being evident that by properly turning the handle or diskv 19, the hub of which bears against the end 14 of the bracket, will force said end 14 toward the end 13, the latter end being held stationary in the boiler by means of the sleeve 15, as hereinbefore described. In the end 13 of the'bracket is formed a groove 21, in which fits one end of the deilecting toe-piece 22, a similar groove 23 being formed 1n the end 14 of said bracket, in which latter groove fits Aone end of the deflecting toe-piece 24, the opposite end of said pieces 22 and 24 butting against each other, as illustrated at 25, these deflecting toe-pieces being slotted or bifurcated, as illustrated at 26 in Figs. 3 and 5, in order to properly straddle or fit over the rod 18 where the ends of s'aid toe-pieces fit in the grooves formed .in the ends 13 and 14 of the bracket.

In the disk 12, formed at the junction of the two delecting-arms l() and 11 of -the IOO bracket, is formed an opening in `which is fitted a valve-casing 27, provided with a shoulder fitting against one side or surface of the disk, that ortion of the casing extending within the bracket being threaded .and provided with a lock-nut 28, impinging a ainst the opposite side of said disk12 and mly holdin said casinginposition. Through the centra passage or opening formed in this casing extends a valve-stem 29, a packing-nut IIO vreduced in diameter, as illustratedl stem, and through the opening or outlet 3 4,

formed in the casing, the water being admltted through the opening 35, formed in the exltreme lower end of the casing 27. The uper end of the steril passes through an opening 36, formed in the rod 18, and through an lo enin 36a, formed in the abutting ends of t e de ecting toeieces 22 24, and provided on its extreme en with a washer or disk 37, bearing on the upper sides or ends of the deflecting toe-pieces 22 24, and a nut 38, this construction and arrangement of parts securing the valve-stem to the deflecting toepieces and also preventing the latter from becoming accidentally disengaged from-l the bracket. A

Having thus described the construction of the device, I will now explain its o eration in connection with a hot-water tan as illustrated in the drawings.`

Presuming that the water in the tank A. has fallen below the temperature at which it is desired to retain it, the tube or pipe 17 will contract, whereby the rod 18 by reason of its being rigidly secured to the inner free end of the tube or pipe 17 and threaded in the wheel or disk 19, which bears against the end 14 of the bracket, will cause said end 14 to be moved slightly in a direction away from the end 13, the latter end 13 being, as described, tightly secured to the tank A. By this slight separation of the two ends of the bracket the arms 10 11 and especially where they converge into the disk 12, will be raised, the valve-casin 27 being also raised. At the same time t e abutting ends of the deflecting toe-pieces 22 and 24 will be lowered-that is,

the toe-pieces will assume a position more nearly to the horizontal, the-valve-stem being carried downwardly by means of the spring 39, bearing against the nut 38, secured to the extreme end of said stem, the ends of which spring are bolted or otherwise secured tothe ends 13 14 of the bracket, these movements of the several parts causing the valve- .casin to be raised -and the stem lowered, there y unseating the' valve 31 from its seat 32. The water-supply from any. suitable source-as, for instance, thecity main--will .then How through the supply-pipe F into the valve-casing 27, throng the inletort 35, and out through the plpe G, threa ed into the outlet-port 34, formed in the valve-casing, thereby relieving the ressure on the y by said l valve, around the restricted end of the valvep ing the valve and again enter the will be required steam-valve E, permitting t e same to open seep and allowing the steam to ow into the steam-coil D, located within the hot-water tank. As the water inS the tank is heated by this coil the brass pipe or and as one end thereof is fixed the movement of the metal will necessarily be in a direction toward the inner free end thereof. sult' of this expansion of the pipe or tube is to cause the rod 18 to exert a u l or tension in the same direction upon tliie end 14 of the bracket, into which the end of said rod 18 is threaded, as heretofore described, whereby by reason of which ull or tension the arms 1() and 11 of the brac et, and articularly the disk 12, with its attached va ve-casin wi be lowered and the abutting ends of t e deflecting toe-pieces raised, causing the valvetube 17 will expand,`

The re- I stem 29 to be raised until the valve 31 rests a ainst its seat 32, thereby causing the flow o the water through the pipe F, va ve-casing 27 and outlet-pipe G to be checked, the pressure thereof belng then exerted on the steamvalve E, closing the same and cutting off the the coil D. Should the temperature of the water in the tank A subsequently fall, the brass pipe or tube 17 will contract, as before described, thereby o penermitting the steam to co D, as described in the first instance. It wil-l be understood that by turning ,the disk or handle 19, threaded on the outer extreme end of the rod 18, the hub 2O of which bears against the end 14 of the supply of steam to arm 1 1, the said end 14 will be forced a direction toward the end 13 of the arm 10, such adjustment causing the abutting lends of the and also the deflecting toe-pieces to be raised the valve 31 valve-stem 29, partially closin against its seat, the same as t ough the exansion member 17 had been ex anded. By a slight rise in temperature .of t e water the valve will be closed. By vturning the disk 19 in the opposite direction the abutting ends of the deflecting toeieces 22 and 24 will be allowed to lowerft at is, assume a position more nearly to the horizontalthe valvestem being carried downwardly by means ofthe spring 39, as before described, thereby causing the valve-stem to be lowered andthe valve removed to a greater distance from the valve-seat 32. By, such adjustment a much greater rise in the temperature of the water to seat the valve, this construction and arrangement of parts permitting the device to be so regulated and adjusted that the Water in the tank may be kept IOC IIO

or retained at any desired degree of temperature.

From the foregoing .it will be understood that the device is exceedingly simple and cheap to construct, easily and readily assembled and attached in place, is automatic and by reason of the of its several of the and reliable in operation, constructlon and arrangement parts a slight contraction or expansion ing secured to the ends of'said defleeting-- b`rass tube or pipe will cause a much greater movement in the valve in that the valve and valve-stem are moved 1n onedlrection and the valve-casing simultaneously moved in the opposite direction.

Having fully described my invention, what claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a thermostat, the combination with a pair of .deflecting-arms, of an expansible member secured at one end to one of said deliecting-arms, a rod secured at one end t0 the free end of said expansible member and at its opposite end secured to the other of said deflecting-arms, deiecting toe-pieces abutting at one of their ends and at thelr o posite ends bearing against the ends of said) deiectingarms, a spring-actuated valve engaging with said delecting toe-pieces and a valve-casing formed with a valve-seat secured/to said delecting-arm, substantially as described.

2. In a thermostat, the combination with a bracket consisting of two,deflectingarms, of two dei'lecting toe-pieces abutting at their inner ends and at their outer ends engaging with the outer ends of said deecting-arms, of an eX ansible member secured at one end to one o said deflecting-arms, arod secured at one end to the free end of said expansiblememberand at its opposite end secured to the other of said delecting-arms, a valve-casing secured to said deflecting-arms, a valvestem formed at one end with a valve and at its opposite end engaging with said deflecting toe-pieces, and a sprin bearin on the end of said valve-stem, the ens of sai spring bearms, substantially as described..

3. In a thermostat, the combination with a bracket consisting of two deiectin -arms, of deflecting toe-pieces, their inner en s abuttlng against eac'h other and the outer ends of which engage with said deflecting-arms, an expansible metal pipe secured at one end to the end of one of sai delecting-arms, a rod passing. through said pipe and secured at one end to the free end of said (pipe and at its opposite end engaging the en of the other of said delecting-arms, a valve-casing secured to said deiiectmg-arms, a valve-stem formed at one end with a valve and at its opposite end engaging with said .deflecting toe-pieces, and a s ring secured at its ends to the` ends of said dIeiiecting-arms anden aging with said valvestem to release said va ve from its seat, substantially as described. l

4. In a thermostat, the combination with a bracket consisting of two delecting-arms, of deiiecting toe-pieces abutting against each other at their inner ends and at their outer ends engaging with the ends of s aid deflecting-arms, an expansible metal pipe secured at one end to the end of one of said deiecting-arms, a metal rod secured at one end to the free end of said expansible metal pipe and at its 0 posite end engaging the end of the other olisaid deflecting-arms, a disk or handle threaded onto the extreme end of said rod and impinging against the end of said deflecting-arm, a valve-casing secured to said deflecting-arm, a valve-stem formed at one end witha valve and at its opposite end engaging with said deflecting toe-pieces, and avspring secured at its ends to the end of said deflecting-arm and bearing against the outer end of said valve-stem, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, borou h of-Manhat- Y tan, 1n the county of New Yor and State of New York, this 21st day of May, A. D.1904.

FREDERICK T. MUELLER.

Witnesses:

M. VAN NORTwIcK, T. A. HUGHES.v 

